Support and variation, the needs of the breast-feeding woman

A basic pattern for human beings is the support given to the mother during delivery and for a period postpartum. One function of this universally recognized need is to assure the success of breast-feeding. The position of the supportive person--the doula--who works with the mother during this period is examined in this presentation. The quantitative difference in the amount of support needed by different women during this period is discussed. In the United States the role of the father is changing dramatically. Men are present at the birth of their children and are expressing more tenderness towards their wife and children. The possibility of such change of role for Japan is of concern. Studies of over 200 cultures have shown the enormous variety in patterns of care for the mother during and after delivery. The author suggests that each mother has a unique rhythm of her own and that sensitivity to each individual woman's needs might enrich her first experiences with her child.